Thecooperative was able to fully implement the smart grid with only two minimalrate increases, and over the course of the project, it was able to utilize thenewly implemented technology to save money. "We modernized our infrastructure and information and outage managementsystems without a pilot program," said Mark Rose, CEO of Bluebonnet ElectricCoop."And we accomplished this transition while maintaining a strong equityratio and rates that were among the lowest in our peer group."Bluebonnet's vision is to go a step further by implementing a SustainableGrid(TM), which encompasses three main ideas: Net Energy Market, EconomicDevelopment and Education Empowerment.Members will be able to generateelectricity, conserve electricity and shift their load at peak times. Thiswill empower members with the right to know and control their electric usageand the right to be a full partner in generating the electricity they use.Fundamentally, the goal is to neutralize, if not reduce, the system's impacton the overall state grid.About BluebonnetBluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives inTexas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves 80,000meters and owns and maintains 11,000 miles of power lines, located across morethan 3,800 square miles within 14 Central Texas counties. Bluebonnet's servicearea stretches from Travis County to Washington County and from Milam Countydown to Gonzales County.

For more information about Bluebonnet ElectricCooperative, go to SOURCEBluebonnet Electric CooperativeWill Holford, +1-512-332-7955, or Barbara Turner, +1-512-332-7975, both forBluebonnet Electric Cooperative. KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan Friday accused its neighbor Chad of launching two bombing raids on its territory, describing the attacks as "an act of war." WorldThe accusation comes a week after Chad said Sudan sent rebel forces over its border, raising fears of the collapse of a recent peace deal.No one was immediately available to comment on the accusation from Chad's government."They attacked. They bombed and there were casualties," said Ali Youssef Ahmed, head of protocol at Sudan's Foreign Ministry."This was an act of war from Chad. The Sudanese leadership and the Sudanese army are assessing the situation. Sudan has the right to defend its territory."He declined to comment on whether Sudan planned to retaliate in any way, adding "We are considering all options."Both countries have regularly accused each other of backing insurgents bent on overthrowing their respective governments.Ahmed said Sudan's Foreign Ministry had called in Chad's ambassador to demand an explanation for the two sorties and had informed the Khartoum-based ambassadors of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.THREE WARPLANES"Three war planes have crossed the borders to an area south of El Geneina (capital of Sudan's West Darfur state) which is 60 km inside Sudanese territory," Ahmed said earlier."It happened at 10:30 a.m and 1:30 p.m .. It is a violation of our territorial sovereignty.

Sudan is in a position to defend its territory," Ahmed told Reuters.Chad accused Sudan of backing a rebel incursion into its territory last week, just days after the two countries signed a pact in Doha in which they agreed to normalize relations and reject any support for rebel groups hostile to either of them.Chad said it stopped the advance, after clashes that killed 125 rebels. Sudan denied involvement in the raid saying it was a confrontation between Chad's government and "opposition groups."Chad and Sudan resumed shaky diplomatic ties in November after cutting them in May 2008.Khartoum had accused Chadian President Idriss Deby of involvement in an attack on the Sudanese capital by Darfur rebels on May 11, 2008. World. COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan troops advanced on the Tamil Tigers on Friday and 5,000 civilians fled the shrinking war zone, signaling a military finish to Asia's longest modern war despite Western calls for a negotiated end. World  |  FranceWith an end to Sri Lanka's 25-year separatist conflict in sight, the U.N.